Florida woman gets federal prison for stealing $220k from Mass. housing agency, pandemic relief
For six months in 2022, Jones worked remotely for the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, assisting low-income residents with eviction and housing emergencies, according to the statement.
After leaving the position, she remained logged into the agency's database, retaining access to program files and the authority to approve landlord payments, the statement said.
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She then diverted four relief payments—amounting to $7,500, $8,800, $6,925, and $10,000—by altering account details, sending the funds to her personal account, her business (Beauty Concepts by Alihea, LLC), and two friends, each of whom kicked back $2,000, the statement said.
Altogether, she stole $33,225 from the agency, according to the statement.
In a separate scheme in 2021, Jones fraudulently obtained pandemic aid intended to small businesses retain staff by submitting false employment records for Beauty Concepts, the statement said.
She claimed to have 17 employees with a $74,800 monthly payroll—despite having none—in order to secure a $187,000 Paycheck Protection Program loan, according to the statement.
The U.S. Small Business Administration later forgave the loan and its accrued interest, bringing the loss to $188,849, the statement said.
In total, Jones was responsible for $222,074 in fraud. She pleaded guilty to five counts of wire fraud in September 2024, according to the statement.
Rita Chandler can be reached at
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